Oven fire: what to do now, and what to do after

What should you do if your oven catches fire?

Keep the oven door closed and turn the oven off. That is NFPA’s advice for an oven fire. GE’s oven manual says closing the door and turning the oven off smothers the fire. Do not open the door to look. Move people and pets away from the kitchen. Then call 911, as the Red Cross advises.

1. 1. Keep the door closed. Do not open it to check.
2. 2. Turn the oven off.
3. 3. Get other people and pets out of the kitchen, and keep a clear way out for yourself.
4. 4. Call 911. The Red Cross advises this for oven fires.
5. 5. If flames come out of the oven or smoke fills the room, leave. Close the kitchen door behind you if you can, and call from outside.
6. 6. Once the fire is out, leave the door shut until the oven has cooled.

Step 5 follows NFPA's cooking fire advice: just get out, close the door behind you to help contain the fire, and call 911 after you leave. NFPA also says that if you try to fight a fire, others must be getting out and you need a clear way out. If the fire started during a self-clean cycle, the door may be locked. Do not force it. See the self-clean section below.

Why should you keep the oven door closed during a fire?

A closed door limits the air the fire needs. Opening it lets fresh air in. GE warns that fresh air at self-clean temperatures can cause a burst of flame and severe burns. Water is the wrong tool too. If fat or grease is burning, water makes it worse. NFPA and GE both say never to use water on a grease fire.

GE's wall oven manual also says never to pick up a flaming pan. Carrying burning food out of the oven puts the fire in your hands and in the room. Our guide to putting out a grease fire explains why water and grease are a dangerous mix.

Should you call 911 for an oven fire?

The Red Cross says to call 911 if something catches fire in the oven, so firefighters can make sure the fire did not spread into the walls. If flames leave the oven, smoke fills the room or you are unsure, get everyone out first and call from outside. The U.S. Fire Administration’s rule is short: when in doubt, just get out.

Call early rather than late. NFPA's Home Cooking Fires report looked at 2017 to 2021 data. More than half of the people hurt in home cooking fires were injured while trying to control the fire themselves. Once you are out, the U.S. Fire Administration says never to go back inside a burning building.

What should you do if a toaster oven catches fire?

Keep the door shut and unplug it if you can reach the plug safely. A Hamilton Beach toaster oven manual says: if the contents catch fire, do not open the oven door. Unplug the oven and let the contents stop burning and cool before you open the door. Do not pour water on a plugged-in appliance.

The same Hamilton Beach manual lists ways to prevent a toaster oven fire:

• · Do not leave it unattended in Toast or Broil mode.
• · Leave at least 1 inch between the food and the heating element.
• · Do not use oven cooking bags in it.
• · Unplug it when it is not in use.

The manual also says not to use an appliance that has malfunctioned or been damaged, and to call the maker about a check or repair. Your own model's manual may differ, so read it. For a microwave fire, the Red Cross says to keep the door closed, unplug it if you can and not use it again until a repair technician has checked it.

What should you do after a small oven fire?

Leave the door shut until the oven is cool. When you open it, stand back. GE warns that escaping hot air or steam can burn your hands, face and eyes. Air out the kitchen. Throw away food that was exposed to heat, smoke or soot, as the Red Cross advises. Then check the oven before you use it again.

1. 1. Let the oven cool fully with the door shut.
2. 2. Stand back from the oven when you open the door.
3. 3. Open windows and doors to clear the smoke, if the weather is dry. The Red Cross gives this advice after a fire.
4. 4. Throw out the burnt food, plus any food, drinks or medicine exposed to heat, smoke or soot.
5. 5. Once cool, remove debris and wipe out the ash.
6. 6. Press the test button on your smoke alarms to make sure they still work.
7. 7. If firefighters came, follow what they tell you before you use the oven again.

Most cooking fires stay small. NFPA's report found 80 percent of reported home cooking fires were confined to the pan or object where they started. It also says cooking done in an oven or microwave is less likely to spread outside the appliance. Even a small fire can leave smoke and soot to clean up.

How do you get rid of smoke smell and soot after an oven fire?

Air the room out, then clean. The Red Cross cleanup guide gives these steps:

• · Wash soot off walls, furniture and floors with a mild soap or detergent. Wear rubber gloves.
• · Rinse with clear warm water and dry well.
• · Wash walls one small area at a time, from the floor up, to prevent streaks. Do ceilings last.
• · Do not repaint until walls and ceilings are fully dry.
• · Wash pots, pans and flatware in soapy water, rinse and polish.
• · For clothes, test any treatment first. One tip is washing in cold water with your usual detergent and 1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract.

For heavier soot, the Red Cross gives a mix of trisodium phosphate (TSP), household cleaner or chlorine bleach and warm water. It warns that TSP is caustic, so read the label first. The Red Cross also warns that some household cleaning products give off toxic fumes when mixed. If firefighters used water, it says to consult a professional about replacing soaked drywall and insulation.

Is it safe to use the oven after a fire?

Check it first. If you see sparks or frayed wires, or smell hot insulation, the Red Cross says to turn off the power at the main breaker. A tripped breaker may mean damaged wiring, so call an electrician instead of resetting it. If you smell gas, leave and call the fire department from outside. If the oven does not work right, have it serviced.

These checks come from the Red Cross guide to checking your home after a fire. It says to leave at once if you smell gas or hear hissing, and to call the fire department once you are safe. GE's manual adds that if the self-clean mode malfunctions, you should turn the oven off, disconnect the power and have a qualified technician service it. When in doubt, call the maker's service line before you cook in it again.

How do you handle insurance after an oven fire?

Whether a policy pays depends on your policy. These steps from the Red Cross protect your claim either way:

• · Take photos of the damage before you clean up. The Red Cross says you may need them for a claim.
• · Contact your insurance agent.
• · Do not throw out damaged items until an inventory has been taken.
• · Save receipts for money you spend because of the fire.

The Red Cross notes that your agent may help with living costs if you cannot stay home. For a bigger fire, the U.S. Fire Administration's free booklet After the Fire: Returning to Normal covers the first 24 hours, insurance, valuing property and replacing documents.

Can a self-cleaning cycle start an oven fire?

It can if grease is left inside. GE’s oven manual says to wipe grease and heavy soil from the oven bottom before self-cleaning, and that failing to do so may result in an oven fire. If a fire starts during self-clean, GE says to turn the oven off and wait for the fire to go out. Do not force the locked door open.

Other steps from GE's manual before you run a self-clean cycle:

• · Remove the broiler pan and grid, the probe, all cookware and any foil.
• · Remove shiny silver-colored racks on models that have them. Only porcelain-coated racks may stay in.
• · Do not use commercial oven cleaners or oven liner coatings in or around the oven.
• · Vent the kitchen with an open window or the hood fan during the first self-clean cycle.
• · Move pet birds to another well-ventilated room. GE says some birds are extremely sensitive to self-clean fumes.

The door stays locked until the oven cools below the locking temperature. These steps come from one GE manual. Check yours, because self-clean designs differ by brand and model.

What causes oven fires, and how can you prevent them?

The GE manual warns about these causes of oven fires and damage:

• · Grease buildup. Grease in or near the oven may ignite. Do not let it build up.
• · Things left in the oven. Do not leave paper, utensils or food in the oven when it is not in use. Stored items can ignite.
• · Foil or liners on the oven floor. They can trap heat or melt, with a risk of shock, smoke or fire.
• · Flammable things nearby. Keep paper, plastic, pot holders, towels and curtains away from the oven.
• · Unopened food containers. Pressure can build up and burst them.

And these habits from NFPA and the Red Cross:

• · Stay in the kitchen while you broil.
• · When baking or roasting, stay home, check the food often and use a timer.
• · Turn the oven off when you finish.
• · Check that the oven and other cooking appliances are off before bed or before you leave home.

For the stovetop side of kitchen safety, see our stove fire prevention guide. To be ready for a fire that does start, read which kitchen fire extinguisher to buy and where to put smoke alarms near a kitchen.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• · NFPA, Cooking safety (2020 to 2024 data, read October 2026)
• · NFPA, Home Cooking Fires report (September 2023, 2017 to 2021 data)
• · NFPA, Fire extinguishers safety tips (read October 2026)
• · U.S. Fire Administration, Cooking fire safety (page reviewed September 28, 2026)
• · U.S. Fire Administration, Cook Safely flyer (read October 2026)
• · U.S. Fire Administration, After the Fire: Returning to Normal (page reviewed April 1, 2023)
• · American Red Cross (North Carolina Region), Kitchen safety tips including oven and microwave fires (read October 2026)
• · American Red Cross, Checking your home after a fire (read October 2026)
• · American Red Cross, Cleaning up after a fire (read October 2026)
• · GE Appliances, Wall oven owner’s manual 49-80717 (April 2014)
• · Hamilton Beach, Toaster oven use and care guide 840198600 (2010)